Freed

Here is an account of the meeting ,at The Grand Hotel,Grasse near Nice, France - Amandeep mentioned in his post - The last meeting between M. Duleep Singh and Queen Victoria - which describes the Maharaja's appearance - from a letter from Queen Victoria to her daughter Vicky(Princess Royal) - 1 April 1891 *From Alexander & Anand 1980 - pg 293

The Rabab ( and barud dan - gunpowder flask) of Guru Hargobind Sahib * from Sikh Heritage - Dr Daljeet - 2004 The Rabab of Guru Gobind Singh - Given by Guru Sahib along with a rifle to Maharaja Sidh Sen (1684-1727) of Suket Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. It is now kept in the Mandi Gurdwara . Chris Mooney Singh - an Australian Sikh - is shown holding the Very Large carved Rabab - He is spearheading a 'Rabab and Tanti Saaj' Revival. These Two rababs are said to be the only surviving rababs - used by the Guru Sahiban.

The Mridangham - mentioned many times in Gurbani A Bedouin Rabab player

It is believed that the Sikh Gurus created new musical instruments - Guru Arjan Dev Ji is said to have created the Sarinda - which is similar to the Sarangi - to accompany Shabad Gurbani. ( The Sarangi having negative associations with 'Mujaras') Guru Gobind Singh is said to have created the Taus - a type of dilruba shaped like a peacock - 'taus' is the persian for peacock. Bhai Mardana is renowed for his Rabab - the Rabab is said to have been created by 'Sikander Zulqarnein' - Alexander the Great - the Rabab is mentioned many times in Guru Granth Sahib. I have a question was the rabab played by Bhai Mardana plucked or played with a bow ? In the pictures you can see the different types of Rabab - the one with a hourglass 'Waist' would probably be made that way to be played with a bow rather than plucked . I would be grateful if anyone could answer - Many Thanks ! Here is a collection of pictures of Musicians and musical instruments -- Please feel free to add your thoughts. Rare Musical instruments of Punjab A Musical Sabha at Bhaini Sahib A Pakhawaaj player at Bhaini Sahib Bhai Pal Singh ( Bhai Amrik Singh Zakhmi Jatha ) playing the Dilruba The Dilruba An Afghan Rabab A North African Rabab The Sarinda A Sarinda Lucknow Sarangi Sharief Idu - Sufi Dhadi - with Sarangi The Santoor The Esraj Hindustani Rabab Kashmiri Rabab The Taus The Pakhawaaj *Ref - Folk Music & Musical Instruments of Punjab - Alka Pande - Mapin - 1999

The Plaque on the wall of St Andrew & St Patrick Church, Elveden . Suffolk UK

Spy Cartoon of 'The Maharajah' from Vanity Fair of 18 November 1882 (before anyone starts - yes that is a cigarette - and no I am not promoting the smoking of Tabs ! - just posting the pic !)

The Maharajah became a Christian in around 1850 - He had wanted to cut his hair but was 'dissuaded' by Lord Login from 'such a drastic step' until he had a 'year on probation' as a Christian. Duleep Singh cut his hair in 1851 and he presented his long 'tress of hair,long and abundant as a woman's' to Mrs Login (Source Alexander & Anand 1980 ) I have heard Dhadis sing that when Duleep Singh was reunited with his Mother Jind Kaur in 1863 - She touched his head in blessing and felt he had no Kesh - and cried that -It is today that Ranjit Singh has died and Today we have lost our Raj and blessings !. Melodramatic stuff but nonetheless interesting. Pictures from 1854 show the Maharajah with a "Comb over" - so he was balding from an early age The picture from 1877 shows Duleep Singh aged around 40. Duleep Singh became more interested in Sikhi as his struggles with the India Office to increase his allowance grew. The Maharajah took Amrit at Aden 25 May 1886 - while he was 'under arrest and on parole ' - the 5 piarey being sailors and staff from ships docked at Aden. The Maharajah became "England's proud implacable foe" however by 1886 he was back in Paris and ''apologizing all round". (Alexander & Anand 1980) He died in 1893 and was buried at Elveden according to Christian rites - in keeping with his wishes - alongside his wife and son . The Graves at St Andrews Church Elveden Suffolk UK The Memorial window in the Church - the Adoration of the Magi by Kempe - a gift to the church from the Maharaja's children in his memory **** I agree Sikher the Peter Bance Book is very good - get yourself a copy !

A collection of rare sketches and photographs of Maharajah Duleep Singh "Maharajah Duleep Singh as a ten year old : an elusive but remarkable image from the dawn of photography - a calotype made in Lahore by the East India Company surgeon john McCosh on the eve of the Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49)" * Text and picture from The Maharajah's Box - Christy Campbell - HarperCollins - 2000 A Drawing by Queen Victoria of Duleep Singh and Prince Leopold. Duleep Singh is dressing the Prince in 'Sikh Dress' - Drawn at Osbourne House -Isle of Wight,UK - 1854 *From a sketchbook in The Royal Archives The Maharajah with Prince Arthur, son of Queen Victoria - Osbourne House Aug 24 1854 - A sketch by Queen Victoria *from Queen Victoria's Maharajah - Michael Alexander, Sushila Anand - Weidenfeld & Nicholson - 1980 Prince Alfred and Prince Arthur - Queen Victoria's sons, 1854 , wearing 'Sikh dresses' probably gifted by Duleep Singh - Alfred later became Duke of Edinburgh and Arthur became Duke of Connaught. * from The Unforgettable Maharajas, 150 years of photography - E Jaiwant Paul, Pramod Kapoor - Roli - 2003 Maharajah Duleep Singh on his Wedding Day - 9 June 1864 The Maharajah in 1877 - a signed photograph *from Queen Victoria's Maharajah Duleep Singh 1838 - 93 , Michael Alexander, Sushila Anand - 1980

Dear Kabbadi Singh, GurFateh ! - Please give a page reference or 'Adhiaie' chapter reference or even the context and I will try and find, then post the quote for you - It is very hard to find quotes without at least a rough idea of context or time scale.(ie at what point in Guru Ji's life) - a page ref would be ideal ! Many Thanks On a side note - It is always wise to read sources with an open mind and look at them in context and with other contemporary sources and of course Gurbani - having said that we cannot just 'pick and choose' what we believe and 'cherry pick' ideas we like and leave or trash concepts we do not. (Unless of course you have done the required research and produce evidence for your rejection - not just - " Guru Sahib wouldn't do that" - or paranoia about Brahmins ) An example of this is- this quote from Sukha Singh GurBilas Patshahi 10 which is quoted by many - to encourage the keeping of Kesh. These same people will then attack other quotes as 'bhamin' interpolations. "Bina shastr kesang narang bhed jano. Gahe kaan tako kitey le sidhano. Ehe mor agiya suno le piare. Bina Tegh Kesang divo n didare." " Without weapons and Kesh - you are nothing but a sheep - who can be led anywhere by the ear A order has come from the master, without un-cut hair and weapons do not come before me " *From Gurbilas Patshahi 10 - Bhai Sukha Singh edited by Dr Gursharan Kaur Jaggi - Bhasha Vibhag , Punjab - 1989 - pg 364

These pictures are of the Doors of The Darshani Gate,The Darshani Deori in front of the Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. These gates have been described by H H Cole ( 1884) as being made of Shisham Wood - the front plated with silver plates - the back inlaid with ivory - with geometric, floral and animal patterns The doors are very beautiful - though I have never seen the ivory work on the back -either in pictures or in real life. Has anyone seen the back of the doors - or have a picture ? please post it !! Many people miss the doors as they are open flat against the wall - they are closed after Guru Sahib's SukhAsan - So you can see the front silver work. These Doors are famous not only because they are beautifully crafted - a number of controversies surround them. It has been claimed that these doors are the Doors of the Somnath Mandir , Gujarat - Looted by Mahmud Ghazni in the 11th century and taken to Afghanistan. - However there is no hard evidence for this. It is claimed by many that Maharaja Ranjit Singh or his soldiers brought back the gates from Kabul. J D Cunningham relates negotiations between The Shah of Afghanistan and Ranjit Singh - where Ranjit Singh asks for the return of the Gates in exchange for help to restore the Shah his throne.The Shah also relates a 'Curse' * From History of the Sikhs - J D Cunningham - John Murray - 1849 Some claim Ranjit Singh brought the gates from Kabul and offered them to the Somnath Mandir but the Pundits refused to accept them as they had been in the possession of Malaichas, the barbarians. So he gave them to Darbar Sahib. However Giani Gian Singh in his Twarik Siri Amritsar and Udham Singh in his Tarikh-i-Darbar Sahib give details of the manufacture and cost of the Darshani Gate - this would mean the above is a myth and the gates were custom made for the Darbar Sahib. Another point is that the gates are made of Shisham wood and the Somnath gates were said to be carved from Sandalwood. If you look at the style of the doors it can be seen that they are exactly the same as the Gold doors kept in the Toshekhana - so they must of been made for the Darbar Sahib. Another twist is a legend that says the British brought the gates to Agra ( Latif (History of Punjab) says they are in the British Museum) - though some argue these gates are from Ghazni's tomb. Akali Dal and SGPC warring factions always create a fuss around the gates - some saying the BJP want the gates back - some saying Badal is willing to give them back - and had secret talks with Advani - that's dirty politics for you !! On his visit to Amritsar in the 1970s Indian Prime Minister Desai is said to have asked for the Gates back . However all this is immaterial as the gates are not from Somnath - The biggest danger is from Kar Sewaks who recently wanted to take down the gates and replace them with ones made from African wood in Birmingham UK !!!!!!!!!!!! Hope this post isn't too long - I do have a tendency to waffle on for ages -- Here are the Pictures - The bit you want to see !!! --- If anyone has any more info please post it - If anyone has pics of the back of the gates - I would love to see them - Please post them !!! The Darshani Gates in the 1960s *From Indian Temples and Palaces - Michael Edwardes - 1969 The Darshani Gates - Closed after SukhAsan - photograph taken in Feb 2004 ( apologies for quality my camera is not very good !!!) Amrit Vela Prakash - you can see the doors in the top left The Gold Doors of the Harimandir - which the Darshani Gates resemble

I am posting these pictures to get the Sangat's opinions - I am not 'Sant Bashing' or attacking The GNNSJ or Karsewaks . I just want to know peoples opinions about Kar Sewa of Harimandir Sahib and other Gurdwaras. I was prompted by seeing the Kar Sewa of Harmandir Sahib Taran Taran which has recently been covered with gold plates. Most posts about Kar Sewa degenerate into mud slinging - with this post I would like to hear the sangats opinions and constructive comments about what is the best way to perform Kar Sewa - what methods should be used ? What is the best way forward. The Harimandir Sahib has always been a 'Symbol' of the Panth's Chardi Kala - every time it was attacked it was rebuilt 'bigger and better' - Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rebuilding left no trace of the Original - are we just following that model ? It has been argued that the Harimandir is not a museum - the Beauty does not come from the architecture or Gold but the 'beauty' shines from within - from Guru Granth Sahib Ji Should we maintain the 'priceless heritage' at all costs - are we slaves to the heritage at the cost of Sikhi ? - A friend of mine argues that we are heading towards the UK situation - Where Many Cathedrals are tourist sights not spiritual places - The Church of England selling Heritage/ nostalgia not spirituality - What are your Thoughts ? Do we maintain/restore/protect or rebuild and renew because "Nothing is permanent" ? Please post your Comments - what is the way forward ? *************** These pictures show the 2 prevalent views ( from my perspective ) ************* View One : The Harmandir is not a Museum - this is a quote from Michael Edwardes in 1969 * from Indian Temples and Palaces - Michael Edwardes - Hamlyn - 1969 ************** View Two : 'Stop the Destruction and "bad taste"' Some of the "worst excesses" Akal Takht Ceilings painted in "FairGround Ride" colours The removal of the original Gold plates - Bhai Mohinder Singh GNNSJ *from The Global Indian, The Rise of Sikhs Abroad - Gurmukh Singh - Rupa - 2003 Incongruous additions are not a modern phenomenon - The Gothic Clock Tower built by the British. My Intention is not to offend - Bhul Chuk Maaf

The Opening Verses of Sri Guru Granth Sahib - Japji - on the arches of the balcony of the upper floor of the Harimandir Sahib * From The Golden Temple - Patwant Singh 1988 "Amritsar SatGur Sat Vadi Jit Natey Kaooa Hans Hove" Window Arch in the Harimandir Sahib * from Marg Vol XXX 3 June 1977

The doors would have been made around 1830 - 39 AD The work was supervised by Bhai Sant Singh Giani - and by his son Bhai Gurmukh Singh Giani after his death. The craftsmen were Mistri Muhammed Yaar Khan and his son Allah Yaar Khan. The total expediture recorded by Giani Gian Singh (Twarik Siri Amritsar) for the gold work on the Harimandir (not including the marble walls and floors) was ; 1. Maharaja Ranjit Singh -- 1639000 Rupees 2. The Bhangi Sardars -- 3355000 Rupees 3. Maharaja Kharak Singh & Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh -- 941000 Rupees 4 The Maharanees (of Lahore Durbar) -- 185000 Rupees 5. Sikh Sardars --- 128000 rupees 6. Futkal Sikh Sardars -- 163000 rupees Total -- 6411000 Rupees Amongst others - Fateh Singh Alhuwalia donated 342634 Rupees for gold for the main dome and Rani Sada Kaur - Sardarni Khanaiya Misal - gave 175300 Rupees to gild the roofs

Inscriptions on the walls of the Harimandir Sahib. The opening Slok of the Sukhmani Sahib - Gold work from the walls of the Harimandir Sahib. The dedication above the Main Door of the Harimandir Sahib. The dedication is dated 1887 - (AD1830) It reads ' Siri Maharaj Guru Sahib Ji ne apne param sewak sikh jaan kar Sri Darbar Sahib Ji ki sewa sri Maharaja Singh Sahib Ranjit Singh ji par daya karke karai . Sammant 1887.' translation (from Patwant Singh 1988) - The Great Guru in His wisdom looked upon Maharaja Ranjit Singh as his chief servitor and Sikh, in his benevolence, bestowed on him the privilege of serving the temple . ' Before the restoration ; After the restoration - Photograph taken in Feb 2000 The Inscription on the Side Door - Dated 1896 (AD 1839) - Photograph from the 1970s. It asks SatGuru Ji to Maintain the "BolBala" of the Khalsa - and thanks Guru Sahib for bestowing the opportunity to perform Sewa on Maharaja Ranjit Singh - on Bhai Sant Singh Giani - (Head Giani of Maharaja Ranjit Singh - who arranged and managed the Gold plating, restoration and beautification of The Darbar Sahib) and on Maharaja Kharak Singh and Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh.

These pictures show some of the priceless treasures kept in the TosheKhana of the Harimandir Sahib Amritsar. The Toshekhana is located in the Darshani Deori - The gatehouse of the Harimandar Sahib. The toshekhana contains gifts given to the Harimandir by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and other rajas,Sants, Sikh organisations and Sangat. In this first picture you can the Toshekhana - the treasures are kept in glass display cases - the main lock for the toshekhana has a combination key it requires 4 keys to open - kept by 4 different people - you can see Mah. Ranjit Singh's sword - with a gold hilt studded with diamonds. The Chattar donated by Ranjit Singh - studded with emeralds and pearls with a peacock made of one piece of engraved 'neelam' sapphire. You can also see the Gold Spades and silver 'batas' bowls made for the 1923 'Kar Sewa' of the sarovar. Here is the 'Jarau Chattar' This is the 'Jarau Sehra' - This Sehra was made for the Wedding of Sher Singh , the son of Mah. Ranjit Singh -- It was deemed too beautiful and was donated unused by Sher Singh - who brought it personally to the Harimandar Sahib. It cost 132400 Rupees at the time - it has 108 pearls and is decorated with uncut diamonds detail of sehra The Toshekhana houses 4 pairs of doors - which adorn the Harimandir sahib at gurpurbs 5 times a year. One pair was donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh , one pair by the mother of Mah Kharak Singh (son of Ranjit Singh) , one pair by Kharak Singh and one pair by Maharani Chand Kaur , mother of Kanwar NauNihal Singh These doors were made by Mohammed Yaar Khan and cost 5 lakh rupees at the time. The doors are decorated with floral patterns and scenes from the Gurus' lives. details from the doors Guru Nanak Sahib Guru Ram Dass Ji excavating the Amritsar sarovar Guru Arjan Dev Ji - Builder of Amritsar Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Guru Gobind Singh Ji Guru Nanak flanked by Bhai Mardana and Bhai Bala The treasures in the Toshekhana are ceremoniously displayed 5 times a year on Gurpurbs in the Harimandir Sahib- Called the Jalao - here the Kehea (spades) and batas (bowls) are also displayed in preparation for the Kar Sewa of 1984 * Pictures and info from - *Siri Harimandir Sahib da Sunehri Itihas - Singh Sahib Giani Kirpal Singh 1991. * The Sikhs - Sondeep Shankar,Gurbachan Singh 1998 * Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Jean-Marie Lafont - 2002 * The Golden Temple - Mohinder Singh , Sondeep Shankar - 2002 * Maharaja Ranjit Singh -Mohinder Singh , Sondeep Shankar - 2002

The UK Dates & Locations - (Des Pardes 15 July 2005)

This post is dedicated to all those who lost their lives and were injured in yesterday's Bombings in London - Our Thoughts are with their families May Waheguru Ji shower Love,blessings,comfort and protection on ALL communities - and keep all sons and daughters safe from harm. Nanak Nam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Da Bhala ************* The Dargah of Sufi Saint Hazrat Mian Mir of Lahore in Hashimpura (Lahore,Pakistan)-- according to tradition he was a friend and contemporary of Guru Arjan and laid the foundation stone of Harimandir Sahib, petitioned the Emperor to save Guru Arjan Dev ji and helped secure the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib from Gwalior - The dargah received a special endowment from Maharaja Ranjit Singh. * From Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Mohinder Singh,Sondeep Shankar - 2002 Mian Mir (on right) with Mulla Shah and devotees - early 19th century Sikh/Pahari style - Shish Mahal Mus. Patiala * from The Sikh Heritage - Dr Daljeet - 2004

A choice selection - The Late Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Arora *from Style of the Lion, The Sikhs - Jasprit Singh, Teresa Singh - Akal Pub - 1998 Jiwan Singh 45th Sikhs c. 1860 Akali 5th Battalion, The Sikh Regiment * From Portrait of Courage - Maj. Gen. Prem Khanna, Pushpinder Singh Chopra - Military Studies Convention - 2001 The Maharaja of Patiala Nidar Singh *from Martial Arts Illustrated - Sept 2004 Jagat Singh Jagga *from LP - JAGGA - Jagga Pammi Bai * from Folk Music & Musical Instruments of Punjab - Alka Pande - 1999 Man at Faridkot Fort * from The Sikhs - Raghu Rai , Khushwant Singh - Roli - 2001 Arjan Singh DFC * from Arjan Singh DFC, Marshal of the Indian Air Force - Rupa - 2002 Dr Gurmeet Singh Aulakh * from Amongst the Sikhs, Reaching for the Stars - Dr Surjit Kaur - Roli - 2003 The Sikh Light Infantry *from The Sikhs , Faith Philosophy & Folk - Sondeep Shankar, Gurbachan Singh - Tiger - 1998 1970s Wedding - These moustaches aren't really curled - I just love the 'Choice Garms' !

A Pakistani Muslim friend of mine has a favourite proverb ; "Everytime you point a finger at someone - remember there are three fingers pointing at you ! "

A letter from Louis-Phillippe, the French King , to Maharajah Ranjit Singh appointing General Allard as 'Agent de France ' to Punjab (British Museum, Mss.Eur.G 59) dated 27 October 1835 - with a seal in Gold "Charte de 1830" The handwriting is a little 'flowery' and hard to make out - the larger part reads ; 'au tres grand tres magnifique et tres puissant le Maharadjah Rendjit Sing Bahador, padichah du pendjab conquerant du cachmire du moultan de mangara d'attok de pichawer guerrier invincible et magnanime notre tres cher et parfait ami salut' which, with apologies for my schoolboy 'O' level French ,translates as ; "the very Great, very splendid and very powerful Maharajah Ranjit Singh Bahador, King of the Panjab, conquerer of Kashmir, Multan, of Mangara, of Attok ,of Peshawar - warlike invincible and our very special and perfect friend , Greetings ! " I love the spelling - Rendjit Sing Bahador - Padichah du Pendjab ! * taken from Maharaja Ranjit Singh , Lord of the Five Rivers - Jean-Marie Lafont - Oxford - 2002 A portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Kept in The Louvre , Paris - Titled - Randjiit Sig Baadour (1780-1839), roi de Lahore - Alfred de Dreux - Louvre 1838 A portrait of King Louis-Phillippe A portrait of General Allard (left) and General Ventura * from Lafont 2002

Dear tSingh Bhai Sahib, Profound apologies !! -- I have checked and I am Guilty as charged - My only defence is that -- as you may have guessed from my picture posts - when I see a beautiful picture I have to have it , A slight compulsion of mine - I have had it since I was a kid - I have never been able and still can't get enough material on Sikhi - My shelves at home are groaning under the weight of books, clippings etc - much to my family's annoyance - I have hard drives full of pics I have " acquired" via 'RidhSidh' !! I hope you will forgive an obssessed brother - I will remove the picture if you want me to - Sorry ! --- Thank you for the extra info -- I didn't know sewapanthi.org was run by you - great site , will you be updating it soon? I would love to read longer accounts of your trips to Turkey and Albania that you have written about on SA . In your post the article mentioned the Nirmalas praying at the mazaar - do Nirmalas as a group attend any other 'urs' at mazaars - I was thinking of the Rauza Sharif of Sheikh Ahmed Farooqi, Mujadid Alif-saani at Sirhind - do they have any links like the historic links the Sewapanthis had/have ? Once again apologies for being a tea leaf !!

I was clearing up some old files on my computer and found these pictures - They aren't very clear - They were taken at The 1998 Kumbh Mela - Perhaps some of the Nirmala members of the forum recognise any faces ?- or can explain what is happening in the pics or what happens at the Kumbh - The Nirmala Akhara are the last to 'bathe' I believe ?? - any information greatly appreciated. The Pics are from Dr. James G. Lochtefeld 's website ( Assoc. Prof. of Religion, Carthage College,Kenosha, WI ,USA) http://www.carthage.edu/dept/religion/biog...fm?ID=800002425 (The Link worked last time I checked - sometimes it doesn't !) Nirmalas at Kumbh Mela * Picture from http://www.sewapanthi.org/ Nirmalas at Kumbh Mela 1998 Udasis at 1998 Kumbh Mela Some bonus pictures !!! Mahant AnantAnand of Udasin Akhara Amritsar - does the turban style, with 'Farla' like frill , have any significance ?? Aarti at Haridwar

I Love the Second poem - it is my absolute favourite. Here it is in Gurmukhi lipi with punjabi translation * From Bhai Nand Lal Granthawali - edited by Ganda Singh - Punjabi Uni Patiala - 2000 - pg 28

Cree comment on the environment and materialism The photo is of Wolf Robe, a Southern Cheyenne, taken in 1909

Forgive my Twenty Vices - Veeh Augunn * From 'Hymns from Bhai Gurdas's Compositions - Gobind Singh Mansukhani - Sikh Missionary Society UK - 1988